Everything Belongs: Living the Teachings of Richard Rohr Forward Unfinished Prophets: Elijah, Jonah, and John the Baptizer
Aug 8, 2025
Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar and spiritual teacher, and Carmen Acevedo-Butcher, a scholar and writer, engage in a profound discussion on the flaws of biblical figures like Elijah and Jonah. They explore the challenges of embracing imperfection in spiritual journeys. Highlights include the importance of self-compassion for personal growth, the barriers of perfectionism, and the absence of women's voices in prophetic narratives. Their conversation emphasizes the beauty in incompleteness and the transformative power of authentic engagement with spirituality.
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Prophets Are Shown As Developing Figures
- Richard Rohr highlights that many famous prophets are “unfinished,” showing development rather than moral perfection.
- These incomplete portraits invite us to learn from flaws instead of idolizing flawless scripture figures.
Elijah's Spectacle Then Breakdown
- Mike Petro recounts Elijah calling down fire, then slaughtering prophets and collapsing into burnout after a death threat.
- Elijah is later drawn into quiet rest and hears a 'still, small voice' that redirects him toward contemplation.
From Spectacle To Stillness
- Rohr contrasts spectacle with contemplation, urging attention to small, quiet experiences as the deeper divine encounter.
- He argues that mature spiritual life shifts from craving big signs to valuing subtle, daily presence.
